The Perfect Weapon
Encyclopedia
The Perfect Weapon is an action 1991 film starring Jeff Speakman
. It tells the story of a young man, Jeff, who is trained in the martial art of Kenpo
, and his fight against the Korean mafia families.
Speakman was a student of and was advised closely by Ed Parker
in the making of this film.
The film's taglines included "No gun. No knife. No equal." and "Just try him." and is the only well-known Hollywood depiction of Kenpo techniques on-screen. The hit 1990s song The Power by rap group Snap!
is featured extensively in the movie's soundtrack.
) leads a double-life: by day, he is a simple, unassuming construction worker, and by night, an expert Kenpo student and master of his craft.
When Jeff lost his mother as a young man, he became an outcast and frequently lashed out at his family and society in an attempt to assuage his anger. His father gained the idea from a mutual friend, Kim (played by Mako
), to enroll Jeff in a Kenpo
school to better manage his rage and feelings.
Jeff, now estranged from his family and living alone, continued with his courses in Kenpo and eventually gained Kim as a mentor
and father figure.
Years later (as the movie begins) Jeff decides to return to his old neighborhood and visit his mentor Kim. It becomes clear quite quickly that Kim is having trouble with local mafia
families, due to his refusal to pay them off and use his antique store to peddle drugs. Jeff tries to help out Kim, but only ends up doing more harm than good to Kim's reputation with the mafia, and this ultimately ends up having Kim murder
ed by an anonymous hit-man.
Jeff vows to avenge Kim's death, and uses all his resources and fighting skills to go against the mafia and find out who ordered Kim's murder.
As it happens, or to complicate matters more, his younger brother, played by John Dye
(Touched By An Angel), is the cop who is investigating the murder.
Jeff Speakman
Jeff Speakman is an American actor and a martial artist in the art of American kenpo karate and Japanese Goju-Ryu, earning blackbelts in each.-Early life:...
. It tells the story of a young man, Jeff, who is trained in the martial art of Kenpo
Kenpo
is the name of several Japanese martial arts. The word kenpō is a Japanese translation of the Chinese word "quánfǎ. This term is often informally transliterated as "kempo", as a result of applying Traditional Hepburn romanization, but failing to use a macron to indicate the long vowel...
, and his fight against the Korean mafia families.
Speakman was a student of and was advised closely by Ed Parker
Ed Parker
Edmund Kealoha "Ed" Parker was an American martial artist, promoter, teacher, and author.-Life:Parker was born in Hawaii, and raised a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He began his training in the martial arts at a young age in judo and later boxing...
in the making of this film.
The film's taglines included "No gun. No knife. No equal." and "Just try him." and is the only well-known Hollywood depiction of Kenpo techniques on-screen. The hit 1990s song The Power by rap group Snap!
Snap!
Snap! is a German Eurodance project formed in 1989 by Frankfurt-based producers Michael Münzing and Luca Anzilotti. The act has been through a number of line-up changes over the years, but was most successful when fronted by rapper Turbo B, who performed on the UK number 1 singles "The Power" and...
is featured extensively in the movie's soundtrack.
Plot summary
Jeff Sanders (played by Jeff SpeakmanJeff Speakman
Jeff Speakman is an American actor and a martial artist in the art of American kenpo karate and Japanese Goju-Ryu, earning blackbelts in each.-Early life:...
) leads a double-life: by day, he is a simple, unassuming construction worker, and by night, an expert Kenpo student and master of his craft.
When Jeff lost his mother as a young man, he became an outcast and frequently lashed out at his family and society in an attempt to assuage his anger. His father gained the idea from a mutual friend, Kim (played by Mako
Mako (actor)
, born , was an Oscar- and Tony-nominated Japanese actor. Many of his acting roles credited him simply as Mako, omitting his surname. -Early life:...
), to enroll Jeff in a Kenpo
Kenpo
is the name of several Japanese martial arts. The word kenpō is a Japanese translation of the Chinese word "quánfǎ. This term is often informally transliterated as "kempo", as a result of applying Traditional Hepburn romanization, but failing to use a macron to indicate the long vowel...
school to better manage his rage and feelings.
Jeff, now estranged from his family and living alone, continued with his courses in Kenpo and eventually gained Kim as a mentor
Mentor
In Greek mythology, Mentor was the son of Alcimus or Anchialus. In his old age Mentor was a friend of Odysseus who placed Mentor and Odysseus' foster-brother Eumaeus in charge of his son Telemachus, and of Odysseus' palace, when Odysseus left for the Trojan War.When Athena visited Telemachus she...
and father figure.
Years later (as the movie begins) Jeff decides to return to his old neighborhood and visit his mentor Kim. It becomes clear quite quickly that Kim is having trouble with local mafia
Mafia
The Mafia is a criminal syndicate that emerged in the mid-nineteenth century in Sicily, Italy. It is a loose association of criminal groups that share a common organizational structure and code of conduct, and whose common enterprise is protection racketeering...
families, due to his refusal to pay them off and use his antique store to peddle drugs. Jeff tries to help out Kim, but only ends up doing more harm than good to Kim's reputation with the mafia, and this ultimately ends up having Kim murder
Murder
Murder is the unlawful killing, with malice aforethought, of another human being, and generally this state of mind distinguishes murder from other forms of unlawful homicide...
ed by an anonymous hit-man.
Jeff vows to avenge Kim's death, and uses all his resources and fighting skills to go against the mafia and find out who ordered Kim's murder.
As it happens, or to complicate matters more, his younger brother, played by John Dye
John Dye
John Carroll Dye was an American film and television actor known for his role as Andrew in the television series Touched by an Angel.-Early life:...
(Touched By An Angel), is the cop who is investigating the murder.
Cast
- Jeff SpeakmanJeff SpeakmanJeff Speakman is an American actor and a martial artist in the art of American kenpo karate and Japanese Goju-Ryu, earning blackbelts in each.-Early life:...
– Jeff - John DyeJohn DyeJohn Carroll Dye was an American film and television actor known for his role as Andrew in the television series Touched by an Angel.-Early life:...
– Adam - Mako Iwamatsu – Kim
- James HongJames HongJames Hong is an American actor and former president of the Association of Asian/Pacific American Artists . A prolific acting veteran, Hong's career spans over 50 years and includes more than 350 roles in film, television, and video games.-Early life:Hong was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota. His...
– Yung - Mariska HargitayMariska HargitayMariska Hargitay is an American actress, best known for her role as New York City sex crimes Detective Olivia Benson on the NBC television drama Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, a role that has earned her multiple awards and nominations, including an Emmy and Golden Globe.The daughter of actress...
- Jennifer - Dante BascoDante BascoDanté Basco is an American actor, voice actor, poet, and dancer. He is best known for playing Rufio in the 1991 live-action Peter Pan film Hook...
- Jimmy Ho - Professor Toru Tanaka - Tanaka
- Seth SakaiSeth SakaiSeth Saita Sakai was an American actor television and film actor. Sakai's roles included various characters from Hawaii Five-O and Magnum, P.I.. He also featured in the 1991 film, -External links:...
- Master Lo